The art of medicine includes a medical history, physical examination, reasoned assessment, and a plan—often referred to as SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan). The standard medical history is limited to the patient’s history, and the heath history of genetic relatives. The medical history should be expanded to include the health of all members of the household; pets and animal contact inside and outside the home; and the medical history of intimate contacts and caregiver contacts.

An expanded medical history could direct medicine to new discoveries in the causes of chronic disease, and potentially reveal new avenues of treatment.